House approves updates to Good Samaritan law amid heated debate

The Washington State House approved Engrossed House Bill 15 74, which sponsors said updates the state's Good Samaritan law to protect people who seek medical help for overdoses, expand protections for drug-checking and broaden possibilities for hospital and health-care facility assistance to people actively using substances.

Representative Macri, the bill sponsor, said: "This bill makes some updates to our Good Samaritan law... Given the continued really high rate of fatalities related to substance use disorder, these updates are essential right now." She also said the bill expands protections and possibilities for hospitals and health-care facilities to assist people seeking services.

Opponents voiced concerns the bill could enable continued harmful behavior and reduce law enforcement's ability to apprehend people with outstanding warrants after overdose responses. Representative Graham urged a no vote, saying the policy risked "enabling continued harmful behavior" and called for alternatives that increase accountability and treatment. Representative Griffey warned that pardoning responses to overdoses could let people with warrants avoid apprehension. Representative Jacobson and others offered personal testimony about family experiences with addiction, arguing further policy solutions are needed to ensure recovery and accountability.

After debate the clerk announced the roll call: 55 yeas, 42 nays, 1 excused. Having received a constitutional majority, Engrossed House Bill 15 74 was declared passed. The House then recessed to caucus and adjourned for the day.